Toothbrush



April 7, 1925. 1,532,522

B. F. WEAVER, JR

TOOTHBRUSH Filed April 17, 1924 specification.

l atented Apr, '2', i925.

UNITED STATES BENJAMIN r. WEAVER, an, or PALMYRA, TENNESSEE.

TOOTHBR'USH. I I

Application filed. April 17, 192 Serial No. 707,190.

To all whom'c't may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WEAVER, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Palmyra, in the-county of Montgomery and Stateof 'lennesseahave invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Toothbrush, of whichthe following is a This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tooth brushes and has for its principal object to provide a simple and efiicient means whereby the handle of the tooth brush may be adjusted to various positions, whereby the proper and efficient use of the brush may be had, means being provided for holding the handle in adjusted position on the shank of the brush head.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a tooth brush of the above mentioned character, wherein a projecting means is associated with the sides and forward end of the brush head for preventing the same from coming in contact.

with the gums of the person using the brush, thereby preventing irritation of the gums and causing the same to become diseased.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a tooth brush of the above mentioned character wherein the same is of such a construction as to enablea person to have the bristles of the brush head come in contact with the inner and outer surfaces of the teeth.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a tooth brush of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable and furthermore adapted for the purposes for which it is designated.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

Inthe accompanying drawing forming a part 'of this specification and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view, thereof, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 33 of Figure 1.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally my improved tooth brush and the same comprises the brush head 2 whi h terminates at its rear end in the shank portion 8. The handle for the tooth brush is.

designated by the numeral l and the forward end of the handle isswivelly com ect ed to the shank portion 3 of the brush head 2 1n the manner shown at 5 in the drawing As the swivel connection is of the'usual construction,, a further detailed description 03fthe same is not thought necessary.

Thepurpose. of providing a swivel. connection between the handle 4 and the shank 3 of the brush head is to provide a means whereby the handle may be adjusted tothe position shown in the dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawing and for the purpose of holding the handle in the desired adjusted The purpose of'enabling the handle f to be adjusted to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawing is to provide a means whereby the bristles 7 mounted in the brush head 2 will properly clean the inner sides of the front teeth.

Ordinarily with the tooth brushes now in use, the brush head usually rubs against the gums of a. persons mouth and causes irritation which sometimes results in diseasing the gums or causing pyorrhea. To prevent the brush head from coming in contact with the gums in the mouth of a person, I provide the brush head 2 with a dove tailed groove such as is shown at 8 in the drawing and the same extends around the sides and forward ends of the brush head in the manner as clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing.

Adapted to be removably supported within the dove tailed groove 8 is the protecting member which is preferably formed of rubber, although any other suitable material may be substituted therefor and the same 1s designated by the numeral 9 in the drawing. This protecting member or head 9 fits snugly in the groove 8 around the sides and forward end of the brush head and a portion thereof extending outwardly from the sides and forward ends of the brush head in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing. The protecting head may be removed whenever necessary and will be supported in the groove in such a manner as to prevent the ordinary accidental displacement therefrom.

It will thus be'seen from the foregoing description, that an improved tooth brush has been provided which is simple in construction, and wherein the handle therefor is adapted for adjustable connection to the shank of the brush head so as to enable the bristles of the brush head to more efliciently clean both sides of the teeth and without causing any injury to the person. The provision of a protecting bead in connection with the brush head will prevent any possibility of the brush head from coming in contact with the gums and thus prevent the irritation of the gums While the brush is in use.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that varlous changes 1n the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 2- A tooth brush of the class described comprising a brush head, the latter having a shank portion, a handle swivelly connected to said shank portion, means for holding said handle in adjusted position on said shank, said means comprising spring clips carried by the handleon opposite sides thereof and adapted for engagement with the adjacent portions of said shank.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

BENJAMIN F. WEAVER, JR. 

